H.S. wrestling: Region 2 quarterfinal action

Paramus' Ryan Freeman, top, tries to wrap up St. Joseph's Jason DalCortivo at 113 pounds in the Region 2 quarters.

PARAMUS – As the new year dawned in January, Zack Spira was still a man without a weight class in Bergen Catholic's starting lineup.

Dennis Kolenovic of Bogota/Weehawken was hoping that he could turn a seventh-place finish in the Bergen Holiday Tournament into a senior season to remember.

Friday night, both showed what a little perseverance can do, posting upset victories in the quarterfinals of the Region 2 wrestling tournament to advance to today's semifinals at Bergen Community College.

"It's my final year, so I have to make it count," said the seventh-seeded Spira, who scored a takedown at the buzzer at 145 to stun second-seeded Andrew Rosensweig of Don Bosco, 3-1. "I kind of like my seed because it gives me a chance to know what I can do."

It didn't come easy for the senior. After failing to make the starting lineup at 160 last season, Spira dropped 40 pounds from his summer weight to 145 in search of a starting spot.

"It was the best for the team and best for me," said Spira, who will face third-seeded Sean Kelly of Northern Highlands, a returning champ, in the semis.

"It's kind of weird, Usually [at 160] I'm undersized but strong. Now I have a good cradle because I'm tall."

The sixth-seeded Kolenovic didn't have as much drama in his 3-1 victory over third-seeded Nick Bucci of Paramus at 170. He still had 10 seconds left on the clock when he got the winning takedown.

"He shot in on me," said the Buccaneer senior, who was making his first appearance at the region. "So I went to the side, grabbed his leg, rolled under him and sat for the two."

Fifth-seeded Taylor Shay of Hackensack made his presence felt at 126 with a first-period pin of fourth-seeded Chris Kallensee of River Dell. The win set up a semifinal rematch with top-seeded Pete Lipari of Bergen Catholic, who edged Shay, 3-2, in the District 7 final.

"This is pretty much the best competition I've had ever," said Shay, who is wrestling in one of the deepest brackets in the tournament.

"If I can do well against this competition, it shows people that I'm somebody who has a chance to do something in the state tournament."

Bergen Catholic sent 12 of its 14 starters into today's semifinals, thanks in to 138-pounder Laurien Anghelina, who scored a reversal and back points in the final 30 seconds to come back and beat Old Tappan's Anthony Aiello, 8-5.

Evan Quinn (106) and Danny DeLorenzi, who was pinned by Don Bosco's Eric Chakonis in the 195-pound quarterfinal, will have to battle through the wrestlebacks for third place if the Crusaders hope to send their entire starting lineup to Atlantic City this season.